Die for flanging sheet metal



Nov. 4, 1930. J. A. M GREGOR 1,780,433

DIE FOR FLANGING SHEET METAL Filed March '7, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR v a" W a. W F q 1n. aw My ATTORNE 5 Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT O FFICE JAMES A. MOGBEGOR, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO 1 DIE FOB FLANGING SHEET METAL Application filed March 7, 1928. Serial No. 259,665.

This invention, which is a continuation in shown intermediate said punch and die mempart of my co ending application Serial No. hers;

140,362, filed ctober 8, 1926, relates to dies Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of and more particularly to advantageous die substantially rectangular sheet metal having apparatus for forming-partially peripheral two corners flanged therein by die apparatus 55 curved-'flanges in sheet metal. according to my invention;

Previously to form sheet metal articles Fig. 8 is a perspective view of sheet metal having peripheral flanges such as table tops, of irregular shape illustrating another form washtub covers, and the like, it has been. of partially peripheral curved flange which customary to provide dies for each shape may be formed by apparatus according to my 60 and size of article to be formed, said dies beinvention; p ing arranged to form a completely peripheral Fig. 9 is a perspective view of sheet metal flange in a single operation. This practice, illustrating still another form of flange however, has been expensive in the matter of which may be formed by die apparatus ac- 16 die cost and has been inflexible as regards cording to my invention; 05 operation due to the limitation in variety Fig. 10 is a perspective view of sheet metal of sizes. having formed therein another form of flange Objects of this invention are to provide die contemplated by my invention; apparatus for forming partially peripheral Fig. 11 is a vertical section similar to Fig.

curved flanges in sheet metal accurately and 5 showing a modified form of apparatuswith 7 uniformly,said flanges being smooth and subthe punch and die members in normal sepastantially free from wrinkles, which saidaprated position;

paratus may be arranged to form also beads I Fig. 12 1s a vertical section similar to Fig.

or other surface configurations in said sheet 11 showing the punch and die members in metaL- Another object is to provide die a abutting relation, flanged sheet metal being 7 paratus whereby sheet metal may be readi y shown intermediate said punch and die memflanged to form articles of a wide variety of hers;

sizes. Fig. 13 is a plan view taken on line 13-13 Other objects of the invention will be apof Fig. 11 showing the punch and associated parent to those skilled in the art from the stop members; written disclosures herein made and from Fig. 14 is an elevation of the punch shown the appended drawings wherein: in Fig. 13, and I Figure 1 is a front elevation of die appara- Fig. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section of tus according to my invention; sheet metal flanged in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is a horizontal view taken on line Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive.

2- 2 of Fig. 1 showing the die member in By my invention I have provided die appaplan; ratus whereby smooth partially peripheral Fig. 3 is a horizontal view taken on line curved flanges, such as flanges comprising one 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the punch member in or more corners, may be readily formed in 40 plan; g sheet metal. Any unflanged portions be- 0 Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line tween such partially peripheral flanges may H of Fig. 3; then be subsequently flanged, if desired, by Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line well known apparatus to form completely pe- 5--5 of Fig. 1:" showing the punch and die ripheral flanges. By using die apparatus acmembers in normal separated position, sheet cording to my invention, therefore, flanged metal to be flanged being shown disposed in articles of a wide range or variety of sizes position on said die member; and shapes may be readily formed. The

Fig. 6 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 5 flanges to be formed my herein disclosed showing the punch and die members in abutapparatus may comprise one or more corner 5 ting relation, flanged sheet metal being flanges of rectangular, acute or obtuse angularity, and the flanges may be irregular as well as regular in shape.

In this application a curved flange will be understood to include flanges of regular or irregular contour and flanges having straight portions, as well as flanges having two or more adjacent straight portions angularly disposed.

In the drawings, the apparatus is shown as comprising a punch member 1 secured to the reciprocable ram 2 of an ordinary press, and a die member 3 secured to the bolster 4 of said press. It will be understood, however, that punch and die members according to my invention may be arranged in any suitable position relative to each other, and that relative movement therebetween may be obtained in any suitable manner.

eferring to the punch member 1, the punch base 5, which is secured to the ram 2, carries the punch 6. While it may be rigidly secured to the punch base 5, the punch 6 is shown as carried in floating manner, in order to permit said punch to seat itself more readily with respect to the. sheet metal to be formed. Thus, the unch 6 is shown as carried in spaced yieldingly abuttable relation to the base 5 by the bolts 7 engaging in the shouldered sockets 8, and the springs 9 dis posed in the sockets 10 and engaging the base 5 and punch 6.

Bearing guides are provided to maintainthe punch 6 in desired lateral position relative to the die 11. Thus, the bearing members 12, preferably of brass or other bearing material, carried by the boss 13 are arranged to contact with the punch 6 by suitable adjustable means, such as the bolts 14 and nuts 15, whereby compensation for wear of the members 12 maybe had, and lateral adjustment of the punch 6 obtained for various gages of sheet metal to be formed.

A draw plate or blank holder 16 arranged for yielding movement toward and .away from the punch base 5 to cooperate with the outer surface 17 of the'die 11 to grip peripheral sheet metal blank portions during the forming operation is shown as carried by the punch base 5, the blank holder 16 being spaced laterally from the punch 6 to permit the flan e of formed sheet metal to move interme iate the punch 6 and blank holder 16 upon the separation of the punch and die members after the forming operation, to prevent deformation of said formed sheet metal. The blank holder 16 may be carried yieldingly in spaced relation to the punch base 5 by the bolts 18 engaging in the shouldered sockets 19 and the springs 20 disposed in the soekets21 and engaging the base 5 and blank holder 16, said springs 20 opposing yielding movement of said blank holder toward said punch base.

lVhile the blank holder 16 may be arranged for guided movement with respect to the punch base 5, I have shown said blank holder as arranged for guided movement with respect to the punch 6. Thus, the blank holder 16 may be maintained in spaced lateral relation to the punch 6 and arranged for guided movement with respect thereto by the relatively small projections 22 on the blank holder 16 extending toward the punch 6, said proj ections 22 being preferably rounded (Figs. 4 and 6) or otherwise suitably shaped, so as not to interfere with the movement of a formed flange intermediate the blank holder 16 and punch 6.. The said projections 22 may be omitted under certain circumstances, but some means is preferably provided for guiding the movement of the blank holder 16. The blank holder may be provided with recesses 23 to receive outwardly projecting guides 24 whereby to permit said blank holder 16 to cooperate closely with the outer surface 17 of the die 11.

Leader'pin sockets 25 are shown as provided in the punch base 5 for receiving the leader pins 26 carried by the die shoe 27.

The die member 3 is shown as comprising the die shoe 27 having disposed thereon the die 11 shaped to conform to the exterior surface of a partially peripheral curved flange to be formed in sheet metal'and defining the die recess 28. The die 11 may comprise a lower portion 29 integral with the shoe 27 and an upper portion 30 secured to said lower portion by suitable means such as the screws 31.

The said upper die portion 30, which may beof tool steel, may'also be secured by the screws 32 to lugs 33 integral with or otherwise carried by the die shoe 27.

The depression pad 34 disposed in the die recess 28, cooperable with the punch 6 to grip the sheet metal 35 therebetween and yieldingly movable toward the die shoe 27, may be carried by pins 36 extending through apertures in the die shoe 27 and supported on the spring pad 37. Said pad 37 may be yieldingly supported on the heavy springs 38 disposed between the washers 39 and 40 and around the bolts 41 secured to the bolster plate 4, said springs 38 or other suitable equivalent means opposing said yielding movement of the pad 34 preferably with sufficient force to substantially prevent slipping laterally of sheet metal gripped between said punch 6 and pad 34. It will be noted that the upper surface of the de ression pad 34 and the lower surface 0 the punch 6 may be suitably shaped to impart any desired configuration to the sheet metal to be formed, the pad and punch in the drawings being shown as shaped to form a beaded edge adjacent the flange.

Guides 24 carried by the bolts 32 are shown extending over the outer surface 17 of the die 11, whereby the sheet metal to be formed may be suitably disposed with respect to the punch and die members 1 and 3. To assist further in positioning the sheet metal, a guide arm 45 may be provided, said arm 45 being shown as supported from the die shoe 27 by the strip 46.

When the punch and die members are in normal position (Fig. 5), the blank holder 16 may extend slightly further toward the die member 3 than the punch 6, and the depression pad 34 may extend slightly further toward the punch member 1 than the die 11, in order to grip conveniently sheet metal 35 to provide uniformly dimensioned flanges.

While any suitable materials of construction may be employed, I have found it convenient in certain cases to form the punch 6, blank holder 16, depression pad 34 and upper die portion 30 of tool steel for the superior wearing qualities to be obtained thereby.

In operation, a sheet metal blank 35, pref erably having rounded corners as indicated at 47 in Fig. 7, or otherwise suitably shaped so that the flanged sheet metal may have no superfluous metal appended thereto, is disposed on the depression pad 34 and die 11 in cooperative relation ,to the guides 24 and guide arm 45 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. Relative movement of said punch and die members 1 and 3 toward each other is then caused to take place, as by causing the punch member 1 to descend upon the die member 3. \Vith the construction shown, the periphery of the sheet metal will then be yieldingly gripped between the the outer surface 17 of the die 11 and the punch 6 will seat itself on the sheet metal disposed on the depression pad 34. When the springs 9 have compressed sufficiently to permit the punch 6 to abut the punch base 5, the punch 6 and depression pad 34 will grip the sheet metal therebetween very firmly, whereby lateral movement, slipping, or shifting of said sheet metal portion is substantially prevented, as will be seen from the fact that yielding movement of the depression pad 34 toward the die shoe 27 is opposed by the very heavy, stifi' springs 38. The punch member 1 will then continue to move downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 6 during which time the periphery of the sheet metal blank will be progressively released from between the blank holder 16 and upper die surface 17 to form the smooth,

non-wrinkled upstanding flange 48. (Figs.

6 and 7.) This action of the die apparatus will be understood from the fact that the gripping pressure exerted on the peripheral portion of the sheet metal blank 35 disposed etween the blank holder 16 and die 11 is sufficiently light topermit said peripheral portion to slip between said blank holder 16 and die 11 while the sheet metal portion between the punch 6 and pad 34 is held extremely firmly, as disclosed above,

in effect wrinkles in the flange 48 are subblank holder 16 and.

wherebystantially completely ironed out or prevented from forming.

When the punch and die members 1 and 3 separate from the position shown in Fig. 6, as by upward movement of the die member 3, the sheet metal is firmly held between the punch 6 and pad 34 until the pad has risen to a height substantially as shown in Fig. 5, the flange 48 meanwhile rising intermediate the punch 6 and the inner edge of the blank holder 16. Upon further rising of the punch member 1, the pressure on the sheet metal disposed between the punch 6 and pad 34 is released, the shaped sheet metal then resting on the lower die member, whereupon other flanges may be formed in the same piece of sheet metal, or in, other sheet metal blanks.

As previously mentioned, the apparatus contemplated by this invention is not limited to the formation of flanges of any particular curved shape. In Fig. 7 I have shown the sheet metal 35 having two substantially rectangular corner flanges 48 formed therein as by the specific form of apparatus herein disclosed, each flange 48 having'a beaded edge 42 formed adjacent thereto. In Fig. 8 I haveshown the sheet metal 50 having an end flange 51 of irregular shape formed therein and in Fig. 9 I have shown an end flange 52 formed in a sheet metal blank 53 having non-parallel sides. In Fig. 10 is shown an end flange 54 including two rectangular corners, said end flange being formed in the sheet metal 55.

In Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, I have illustrated apparatus generally similar to that previously described but modified in certain respects more readily to facilitate the formation of flanges haying an 'upstanding portion 56 (Fig. 15) and an outwardly extending portion 57 as in the manufacture of pans or other articles, and more particularly to facilitate the formation of such flanges with upstanding portions 56 of various vertical dimensions. In the 7 following description parts corresponding to those in the previously described apparatus will be designated by similar numerals with the addition of the sufiix a.

Suitable stop members 58 may be associated with the periphery of the punch 6 and arranged to cooperate with the outer surface 17 of the die 11. The stop members 58 may be integrally formed with the punch 6 but where the die apparatus is to be used for forming flanges having upstanding portions of various dimensions, one or more of the stop members 58 is preferably removable from the punch. For a given flange a single stop member of desired vertical dimension may be employed or several such members may be employed as indicated in the drawings. The stop members 58 may extend en-- tirely around the periphery of the punch 6* or partially therearound as indicated in Fig.

screws 59 (Fig. 13), the vertical extent of the stop members toward the outer face of the punch 6 being dependent upon the particular flange to be formed and in part upon the construction of the'particular die apparatus.

In the modified construction shown, the blank holder 16 preferably has no projections 22 of the kind shown in Fig. 3, and said blank holder spaced laterally from the punch sufliciently to permit movement of the stop members 58 intermediate the punch 6 and blank holder 16. Guiding of the vertical movement of the blank holder 16 may be obtained by upstanding pins 60 secured to the die 11 and extending through apertures 61 in the blank holder. Pins 60 are present in sufiicient number to accomplish the desired guiding of the blank holder 16 The die apparatus illustratedin Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, operates similarly to the previously described apparatus. \Vhen the punch and die members 1 and 3 are in abutting position (Fig. 12) the outwardly extending portion 57 of the flange is formed intermediate the upper surface 17 of the die 11, stop members- 58 and blank holder 16, the stop members 58 and upper surface 17 of the die 11 cooperating to give the desired contour to the inner portion 62 of the.

flange portion 57. As shown in Fig. 12 the stop members 58 preferably abut the punch base 2 when the punch and die members are in abut-ting position.

lVhere the downward movement of the depression pad 34* is opposed by the very heavy springs 38, the pressure of such springs has ordinarily been sufficient to accomplish the desired flanging of the sheet metal 63. In some cases, however, it may be desirable to limit the downward movement of the de ression on pad 34 by suitable members {not shown) disposed intermediate the surface 64 of the die base 27* and the under surface of the depression pad 34. v

Upon separation of the punch and die members 1 and 3, as by upward movement of the punch member 1 the outwardly extending flange portion 57 rises intermediate the punch 6 and blank holder 11, whereby a flanged sheet metal portion of undistorted shape is formed. In the manufacture of pans, for example, such outwardly extending flange portion 57 is frequently turned downwardly parallel to the flange portion 56 in a subsequent operation.

It will be seen that by the above-described modified construction, pans or other articles with flanges having upstanding and laterally extending portions may be readily formed, it being possible with a single die apparatus to form such flanges with the upstanding portions thereof of any of a wide variety of vertical dimensions.

It will be noted that in certain cases the flanges formed according to this invention may be disposed sufliciently close together or may overlap to preclude the necessity of forming an intermediate flanges for the purpose of orming a completely peripheral flange.

sheet metal flanging apparatus of light, simple and advantageous construction, by means of which partially peripheral'curvcd flanges of a wide variety of shapes and sizes may be formed in sheet metal.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1.,In sheet metal flanging apparatus, in combination, a die shoe, a die carried by said shoe shaped to conform to the exterior surface of a partiall peripheral curved flange to be formed in sheet metal, a punch base, a punch carried by said punch base arranged to cooperate with said die, a pad arranged to cooperate with the face of said punch disposed in the recess of said die and yieldingly movable toward said die shoe, means opposing said yielding movement with relatively great force whereby slippage of the sheet metal gripped between said punch and pad may be substantially prevented, a blank holder associated with said punch base and yieldingly movable toward said shoe, said blank holder being spaced laterally from said punch, means opposing the yielding movement of said blankt holder with less force than exerted against yielding movement of said pad, said blank holder being arranged to cooperate with the upper surface of said die to grip a portion of the periphery of the sheet metal therebetween.

2. In sheet metal flanging apparatus, in combination, a die shoe, a die carried by said shoe shaped to conform to the exterior surface of a partially peripheral curve-d flange to be formed in sheet metal. a punch base, a

It will thus be seen that I have provided i said punch, means opposing the yielding movement of said blank holder with less force than exerted against yielding movement of said pad, said blank holder being arranged to cooperate with the upper surface of said die to grip a portion of the periphery of the sheet metal therebetween, the outer surface of said blank holder extending further toward said die than the outer surface of said punch and the outer surface of said pad extending further toward said punch than the outer surface of said die when said punch and die are in normal position.

3. In sheet metal flanging apparatus, in combination, a die shoe, a die carried by said die shoe, a'punch base, a punch carried by said punch base, said punch and die having cooperative surfaces shaped to conform to the desired configuration to be imparted to a partially peripheral curved flange .to be formed in sheet metal, said punch being disposed in spaced relation to said punch base, resilient means intermediate said die shoe and punch to yieldingly permit said punch to abut said die shoe, means for maintaining said punch in proper lateral position relative to said die, a pad arranged to cooperate with the face of said punch to hold sheet metal therebetween disposed in the recess of said die and yieldingly movable toward said die shoe,

7 means arranged to oppose said yielding combination, a die shoe,

movement of sald pad with relatively great force, and means for yieldingly grippingthe sheet metal portion forming the flange during the flanging operation.

4. In sheet metal flanging apparatus, in a die carried by said die shoe, a punch base, a punch carried by said punch base, said punch and die having cooperative surfaces shaped to conform to the desired configuration to be imparted to a partially peripheral curved flange to be formed in sheet metal, said punch'being disposed in spaced floating relation to said punch base, resilent means intermediate said punch base and punch to yieldingly permit. said punch to abut said die shoe, means for maintaining said punch in proper lateral position relative to said d e, a pad arranged to coopperate with the face of said punch to hold sheet metal therebetween disposed in the recess of said die and yieldingly movable toward said die shoe, resilient means arranged to oppose said yielding movement of said pad with relatively great force, a floating blank holder carried by said punch base, resilient means interposed between said punch base and blank holder to maintain said blank holder yieldingly in spaced relation to said punch base, means for maintaining said blank holder in spaced lateral position relative to the die-cooperating surfaces of said punch, said blank holder being arranged to cooperate with the outer surface of said die to grip yieldingly the peripheral sheet metal portion to form said flange.

5. In sheet metal fianging apparatus, in combination, a die shoe carrying a die, a depression pad disposed in the recess formed by said die movable toward the base of said die, means for resisting relatively strongly movement of said depression pad toward said die base, a punchmember arranged to cooperate with said die member, said punch member carrying a punch arranged to cooperate with said die, and with said depression pad to hold sheet metal firmly therebetween, said punch and die having cooperative surfaces shaped to conform to the desired confi uration to be imparted to a partial perip eral curved flange to be formed in a sheet metal blank, a blank holder carried by said punch member gieldinglp) movable toward said punch memer, said lank holder being laterally spaced from said punch and arranged to cooperate with the periphery of the sheet metal to be formed, means for resisting less strongly yielding movement of said blank holder, and means secured to said punch extending laterally thereof and arranged to cooperate with the outer surface of said die, whereby a flange having upstanding and laterally extending portions may be formed in said sheet metal with said upstanding flange portion of desired vertical dimension.

6. Sheet metal flanging apparatus for forming a partially peripheral curved flange comprising in combination a punch base, a punch carried by said punch base, said punch being disposed in spaced floating relation to said punch base, a die arranged to 00-0 erate with said punch, a depression pad ad acent said die mounted for yielding movement toward said die, saiddepression pad and punch being co-operable1nwardly of the periphery thereof with suflicient force to hold said sheet metal firmly in position, a blank holder yieldingly movable toward said punch base and co-operable with said die to yieldingly grip a corner peripheral portion of said sheet metal so that said corner portion may gradually slip and die as the punch and die come together, whereby a smooth partially peripheral curved flange may be formed.

7. An apparatus for forming a depending corner flange in sheet metal, in combination, a punch base, a punch disposed on said base shaped to conform to the interior surface to be formed in said sheet metal, a die adapted to cooperate with said punch, said punch and die being shaped to form a corner flange in said sheet metal, a pressure pad mounted intermediate said die and punch and arranged to cooperate with said punch to hold the body of said sheet metal firmly in non-slipping fashion while said flange is being formed, a drawplate yieldingly mounted adjacent, but

in spaced relation to said punch, said draw out from between said blank holder 1 formed in the sheet metal, a pressure pad disposed in the recess of said die and yieldingly movable toward said die shoe, said pressure pad being arranged to cooperate with the face of said punch to grip the sheet metal thcrebetween with sufficient force to prevent slippage thereof, means opposing said yielding movement of said pressure pad, and means arranged to cooperate with said die to grip a corner peripheral sheet metal portion spaced laterally from said punch.

9; Sheet metal flanging apparatus for forming a depending corner flange comprising, in combination, a punch and die arranged in cooperative relation, a pressure pad adjacent said die mounted for yielding movement toward said die, said pressure pad and punch bein cooperable to grip sheet metal inwardly 0 the periphery thereof with sufficient force to hold said sheet metal firmly in position, a drawplate yieldingly movable toward said punch and cooperable with said die to yieldingly grip a corner peripheral portion of said sheet metal so that said corner portion may gradually slip out from between said drawplate and die as the punch and die come together, whereby a smooth depending corner flange may be formed. I

10. Sheet metal flanging apparatus for forming a depending corner flange comprising, in combination, a punch and die arranged in cooperative relation, a pressure pad mounted for yielding movement toward said die, said pressure pad and punch being cooperable to grip sheet metal inwardly of the periphery thereof firmly without slippage during the forming operation, a drawplate yieldingly movable toward said punch and cooperable with said die to yieldingly grip a corner peripheral portion of said sheet metal, said drawplate being spaced laterally of said punch sufficiently so that upon the separation of said punch and die after the forming operation said drawplate will clear the flanged sheet metal, whereby to prevent deformation of the formed sheet metal.

11. In sheet metal flanging apparatus for forming a fractional flange at a peripheral portion of a blank, a die having a recess therein, a punch cooperable therewith, means to positively hold said blank adjacent the pa ripheral portion against said punch with rel-- atively great force to balance the force being exerted on said peripheral portion, and means to yieldingly grip the peripheral portion of said blank while said portion is being flanged.

12. Apparatus for forming a fractional peripheral flange at a single corner of a sheet metal blank, comprising rigidly gripping means for holding the blank adjacent the peripheral portion to be flanged with sufficient force to prevent slippage thereof dur ing the flanging operation, and means for forming a fractional flange at the corner of the blank while the blank is held by said rigidly gripping means.

3. Apparatus for forming a fractional peripheralflange at a single corner of a sheet metal blank, comprising rigidly gripping means for holding the blank adjacent the peripheral portion to be flanged with sufficient force to prevent slippage thereof during the flanging operation, yieldingly gripping means adjacent the rigidly grip ing means for yieldingly holding the perip iery of the blank at the portion to be flanged, and means for simultaneously drawing the peripheral portion from said gripping means and flanging the same while the blank is held by said rigidly gripping means to form a fractional ange at a corner of the blank. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES A'. MoGREGOR. 

